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Content of Citation:

 

"General Orders 1016, Headquarters Far East Air Forces, 5 June 1945 - By direction of the President, the following unit is cited by the Commanding General, Far East Air Forces: 9th FIGHTER SQUADRON - The 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action from 23 October to 7 November 1943. During this two-week period, units of the Fifth Air Force were designated to strike heavy blows daily, weather permitting, at the strong Japanese base of Rabaul, New Britain. On 23 October, P-38's of the 9th Fighter Squadron provided part of the escort in bombing attack on Rabaul. A futile attempt to scatter our bomber formation was made by fifteen to twenty enemy fighters, but so effective was the fighter protection that not a single enemy plane completed an attack on the bombers. In this engagement, the 9th Fighter Squadron definitely destroyed one plane and probably destroyed another. Again escorting bombers to Rabaul on 24 October, the squadron plunged to the attack as a force of approximately sixty enemy fighters prepared to intercept the formation over the target. In the fierce battle which ensued, the 9th Fighter Squadron definitely destroyed six enemy fighters and probably destroyed two others, completely demoralizing the enemy and enabling the bombers to inflict heavy damage. On 29 October approximately fifty enemy fighters climbed to intercept our attacking force but the P-38 pilots, without damage or loss to themselves, scored another victory by destroying seven fighters and probably destroying one other in the face of heavy fire from enemy ground positions. On 2 November the 9th Fighter Squadron, once more on an escort mission to Rabaul, pressed an attack on seventy-five enemy fighters preparing to intercept our bombers. Destroying at least eight fighters and probably accounting for two others, the P-38's protected our formation with such success that it was able to wreck terrific destruction on harbor installations and enemy shipping. The squadron, on 5 November, encountered fifteen enemy fighters over Lakunai Airdrome and destroyed two and probably one other. The last of this series of escort missions was made on 7 November. Reaching the target, the 9th Fighter Squadron again disregarding the numerical superiority of the enemy, attacked and dispersed an enemy formation of more than sixty fighters. In this two-week period, flying missions through severe tropical weather conditions over more than 300 miles of water which was largely enemy controlled, the 9th Fighter Squadron definitely destroyed twenty-four enemy planes and probably destroyed seven more, in addition to providing effective protection for our bombers. The success of these strikes, which contributed in great measure to the neutralization of the enemy in New Britain, must be credited to a large degree to the gallantry and fighting skill of the pilots of the 9th Fighter Squadron and to the efficiency and devotion to duty of the ground personnel who maintained the planes in the peak of combat condition. The achievements of the 9th Fighter Squadron are in keeping with the finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States." 

Citation was signed by General George C. Kenney, Commanding the Far East Air Forces.

 

 

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